Chapter 1171 Zhu Ye’s Strategy
Zhu Ye rushed out of the city gate, including the dozens of people who had just pushed the cart and set it on fire, and soon joined up with hundreds of Thunder God Riders outside the city.
“Hu…Hu…I…I’m finally…finally saved?”
Liu Xie was still somewhat uncertain and kept looking back at the Xiangyang City that had trapped him for so many years.
In the darkness of night, this richest city in Jingzhou looked like a man-eating beast in his eyes. Just one look at it made him tremble all over.
"Go...go, go quickly..."
He kept urging, his voice trembling, and his legs could no longer stand steadily, perhaps because of tiredness or fear. Two Thundergod Knights hurriedly dismounted from their horses and supported him.
Several other people also brought the war horses of Zhu Ye and others over.
Zhu Ye climbed onto the horse, wiped the blood off his face, let out a long breath, and his expression looked a lot more relaxed.
Qin Lie, who had just bandaged his wound, rode his horse to Zhu Ye's side.
"General, should we retreat northward overnight and rush back to Luoyang?"
Liu Xie echoed: "Yes, yes, yes, leave quickly and go back to Luoyang. I want to go back to Luoyang... cough cough cough..."
He spoke too hastily and was too excited, so he couldn't catch his breath and started coughing.
Zhu Ye looked at him, then looked at the neatly-dressed Thunder God Riders behind him. His eyes rolled and he suddenly smiled mysteriously.
He turned his head and looked at a man in his thirties next to him: "Um, what's your name?"
The man hurriedly clasped his fists and replied, "General Hussar, my subordinate is Wang Zhan, the captain of the Flying Eagle Guards."
"Well, it's a high position, a thousand households, so he should be directly under the supervision of the You brothers."
Zhu Ye nodded and said, "Then the Eagle Guards who are cooperating with me this time are all under your command, right?"
Although Wang Zhan didn't understand why he asked this question, he still answered honestly.
"General, you are right. This time, there are 23 members of the Flying Eagle Guard, including Tang Hai, and I am the highest-ranking one. I was recruited into the Flying Eagle Guard by the Deputy Commander-in-Chief when I was in Bingzhou, but this time, it was His Majesty who personally instructed me on the operation."
Zhu Ye seemed very satisfied when he heard this: "Then tell me, what did His Majesty tell you before you left?"
Wang Zhan said truthfully: "His Majesty said that this operation is of vital importance. The Flying Eagle Guard has been preparing for many years in Xiangyang for today, so he wants us to obey the command of the Cavalry General in everything."
"Haha, okay, okay, okay, that's what I want you to say, big brother."
Zhu Ye slapped his thigh, appearing very happy, but left everyone around him confused.
A Thunder Knight soldier looked at his general's expression and seemed to have guessed something.
"General, you don't mean to..."
Zhu Ye grinned at him: "Good boy, you can guess my thoughts. It's worth it that you have followed this general for so many years."
Qin Lie was still full of doubts: "General, what exactly are you planning?"
Zhu Ye patted his shoulder, causing Qin Lie to grimaced in pain as his wound moved.
"Hehe, don't worry, this matter has nothing to do with you. After all, you are injured, so just escort Qiang Yin Hou back north."
By the time he said this, the other hundreds of Thundergod Knights had basically guessed what he had said.
"Hiss... General, what a great hand."
"Haha, that's right, our Thundergod Cavalry has always been invincible. This time we went out and returned without fighting any major battles. Isn't that cowardly?" "General, this is a brilliant idea. The enemy will never think of this. It's just right to catch them by surprise."
Zhu Ye laughed loudly, "You brats are just like the bugs in my stomach. You know everything I'm thinking."
While everyone else was still confused, Zhu Ye had already started making arrangements.
He pointed at a dozen people and said, "You guys, escort Qiang Yin Hou and his injured brothers back north overnight without delay."
The dozen or so people whose names were called immediately looked reluctant.
"General, we still want to follow you to achieve great feats."
"That's right, General, you should take me with you."
"Go away, stop making a fuss." Zhu Ye waved his hands.
"It is His Majesty's order to welcome the Marquis back to Luoyang. How can we miss the important matter because of greed? We Thunder God Cavalry have always shared honor and disgrace. If we really get the credit this time, how can we not have a share?"
After hearing what he said, these people reluctantly accepted the military order.
"Okay, it's decided. It will be almost dawn in two hours. You have worked hard and don't rest. First rush north to Wancheng and rest, then rush at full speed and try to enter Hulao Pass in two days. As for the rest of the brothers, follow me immediately!"
Although Liu Xie, Qin Lie and others were still full of doubts, since Zhu Ye was unwilling to tell them clearly, they naturally did not continue to ask. Anyway, there was a big commotion in Xiangyang this time, and Jingzhou would not have the spare energy to send troops to pursue in a short period of time, so the route to the north was naturally safe.
At dawn, just as the sky was turning pale on the eastern horizon, a cavalry scout left Xiangyang City and galloped westward, soon disappearing from the sight of the soldiers guarding the city.
The scout had just gone more than 20 miles out of Xiangyang City when he was blocked on a mountain road. Before he could shout, the man on the opposite side rushed up to him like lightning and whirlwind, and killed him with a hammer.
The man fumbled around in the scout's chest and pulled out a piece of cloth.
"General, I found it."
In the woods beside the road, Zhu Ye and hundreds of Thunder God Riders slowly rode out.
Zhu Ye took the piece of cloth, took a look at it, and sneered, "Humph, as expected, Han Dang really wrote a letter to Sun Ce and informed him of what happened in Xiangyang City."
A soldier nearby laughed and said, "The general is very smart and never fails, hehe."
"Go away and stop flattering me." Zhu Ye cursed with a smile, then tore the cloth into pieces and threw it to the side of the road.
"If Sun Ce gets to know this news, my plan will not work. We must kill him when he is least prepared."
In the evening, the sun sets and the sky gradually darkens.
To the west of Xiangyang City, on the official road leading to Fangling and Shangyong, a large group of troops were moving slowly forward.
Sun Ce put his hands on the awning, looked ahead, and then called the guide.
"How far is it from here to Xiangyang?"
The guide replied, "My lord, if we go about 40 miles ahead, we will reach Shandu County."
Sun Ce nodded slightly and said, "In that case, we will find a place to set up camp and rest in front of us. We will reach Shandu County before sunset tomorrow, and we will be able to return to Xiangyang the day after tomorrow."
Soon, the guide found a place suitable for the army to camp several miles ahead.
After more than half an hour, the camp was set up, fires were quickly lit in the camp, and they began to cook.
(End of this chapter)
Zhu Ye rushed out of the city gate, including the dozens of people who had just pushed the cart and set it on fire, and soon joined up with hundreds of Thunder God Riders outside the city.
“Hu…Hu…I…I’m finally…finally saved?”
Liu Xie was still somewhat uncertain and kept looking back at the Xiangyang City that had trapped him for so many years.
In the darkness of night, this richest city in Jingzhou looked like a man-eating beast in his eyes. Just one look at it made him tremble all over.
"Go...go, go quickly..."
He kept urging, his voice trembling, and his legs could no longer stand steadily, perhaps because of tiredness or fear. Two Thundergod Knights hurriedly dismounted from their horses and supported him.
Several other people also brought the war horses of Zhu Ye and others over.
Zhu Ye climbed onto the horse, wiped the blood off his face, let out a long breath, and his expression looked a lot more relaxed.
Qin Lie, who had just bandaged his wound, rode his horse to Zhu Ye's side.
"General, should we retreat northward overnight and rush back to Luoyang?"
Liu Xie echoed: "Yes, yes, yes, leave quickly and go back to Luoyang. I want to go back to Luoyang... cough cough cough..."
He spoke too hastily and was too excited, so he couldn't catch his breath and started coughing.
Zhu Ye looked at him, then looked at the neatly-dressed Thunder God Riders behind him. His eyes rolled and he suddenly smiled mysteriously.
He turned his head and looked at a man in his thirties next to him: "Um, what's your name?"
The man hurriedly clasped his fists and replied, "General Hussar, my subordinate is Wang Zhan, the captain of the Flying Eagle Guards."
"Well, it's a high position, a thousand households, so he should be directly under the supervision of the You brothers."
Zhu Ye nodded and said, "Then the Eagle Guards who are cooperating with me this time are all under your command, right?"
Although Wang Zhan didn't understand why he asked this question, he still answered honestly.
"General, you are right. This time, there are 23 members of the Flying Eagle Guard, including Tang Hai, and I am the highest-ranking one. I was recruited into the Flying Eagle Guard by the Deputy Commander-in-Chief when I was in Bingzhou, but this time, it was His Majesty who personally instructed me on the operation."
Zhu Ye seemed very satisfied when he heard this: "Then tell me, what did His Majesty tell you before you left?"
Wang Zhan said truthfully: "His Majesty said that this operation is of vital importance. The Flying Eagle Guard has been preparing for many years in Xiangyang for today, so he wants us to obey the command of the Cavalry General in everything."
"Haha, okay, okay, okay, that's what I want you to say, big brother."
Zhu Ye slapped his thigh, appearing very happy, but left everyone around him confused.
A Thunder Knight soldier looked at his general's expression and seemed to have guessed something.
"General, you don't mean to..."
Zhu Ye grinned at him: "Good boy, you can guess my thoughts. It's worth it that you have followed this general for so many years."
Qin Lie was still full of doubts: "General, what exactly are you planning?"
Zhu Ye patted his shoulder, causing Qin Lie to grimaced in pain as his wound moved.
"Hehe, don't worry, this matter has nothing to do with you. After all, you are injured, so just escort Qiang Yin Hou back north."
By the time he said this, the other hundreds of Thundergod Knights had basically guessed what he had said.
"Hiss... General, what a great hand."
"Haha, that's right, our Thundergod Cavalry has always been invincible. This time we went out and returned without fighting any major battles. Isn't that cowardly?" "General, this is a brilliant idea. The enemy will never think of this. It's just right to catch them by surprise."
Zhu Ye laughed loudly, "You brats are just like the bugs in my stomach. You know everything I'm thinking."
While everyone else was still confused, Zhu Ye had already started making arrangements.
He pointed at a dozen people and said, "You guys, escort Qiang Yin Hou and his injured brothers back north overnight without delay."
The dozen or so people whose names were called immediately looked reluctant.
"General, we still want to follow you to achieve great feats."
"That's right, General, you should take me with you."
"Go away, stop making a fuss." Zhu Ye waved his hands.
"It is His Majesty's order to welcome the Marquis back to Luoyang. How can we miss the important matter because of greed? We Thunder God Cavalry have always shared honor and disgrace. If we really get the credit this time, how can we not have a share?"
After hearing what he said, these people reluctantly accepted the military order.
"Okay, it's decided. It will be almost dawn in two hours. You have worked hard and don't rest. First rush north to Wancheng and rest, then rush at full speed and try to enter Hulao Pass in two days. As for the rest of the brothers, follow me immediately!"
Although Liu Xie, Qin Lie and others were still full of doubts, since Zhu Ye was unwilling to tell them clearly, they naturally did not continue to ask. Anyway, there was a big commotion in Xiangyang this time, and Jingzhou would not have the spare energy to send troops to pursue in a short period of time, so the route to the north was naturally safe.
At dawn, just as the sky was turning pale on the eastern horizon, a cavalry scout left Xiangyang City and galloped westward, soon disappearing from the sight of the soldiers guarding the city.
The scout had just gone more than 20 miles out of Xiangyang City when he was blocked on a mountain road. Before he could shout, the man on the opposite side rushed up to him like lightning and whirlwind, and killed him with a hammer.
The man fumbled around in the scout's chest and pulled out a piece of cloth.
"General, I found it."
In the woods beside the road, Zhu Ye and hundreds of Thunder God Riders slowly rode out.
Zhu Ye took the piece of cloth, took a look at it, and sneered, "Humph, as expected, Han Dang really wrote a letter to Sun Ce and informed him of what happened in Xiangyang City."
A soldier nearby laughed and said, "The general is very smart and never fails, hehe."
"Go away and stop flattering me." Zhu Ye cursed with a smile, then tore the cloth into pieces and threw it to the side of the road.
"If Sun Ce gets to know this news, my plan will not work. We must kill him when he is least prepared."
In the evening, the sun sets and the sky gradually darkens.
To the west of Xiangyang City, on the official road leading to Fangling and Shangyong, a large group of troops were moving slowly forward.
Sun Ce put his hands on the awning, looked ahead, and then called the guide.
"How far is it from here to Xiangyang?"
The guide replied, "My lord, if we go about 40 miles ahead, we will reach Shandu County."
Sun Ce nodded slightly and said, "In that case, we will find a place to set up camp and rest in front of us. We will reach Shandu County before sunset tomorrow, and we will be able to return to Xiangyang the day after tomorrow."
Soon, the guide found a place suitable for the army to camp several miles ahead.
After more than half an hour, the camp was set up, fires were quickly lit in the camp, and they began to cook.
(End of this chapter)
